SCAM ALERT: State Attorney Phil Archer Warns Citizens About Tech Support Scam

By  //  March 19, 2018

never let caller take control of your computer

ABOVE VIDEO: Callers impersonate legitimate technical support companies to fool computer users into handing over their personal information or sending money.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Recently one of our readers was the target of a Tech Support Scam. He received a call from an “unavailable” number and a person claiming to be with a security software company.

He was offered a $199 refund due to problems with his software but needed a credit card number to issue it to. When told no, the scammer offered a code to access the refund from a website.

However, that was a trick to install remote access software to the victim’s computer. The scammer then demanded $400 in gift cards to return control of the computer back to the victim.

These scams try to gain consumer’s trust in hopes of accessing their computer and personal and financial information. Whether claiming to be a tech who will remove a virus on your computer or like the one above, providing refunds to customers, it’s all a hoax.

Their goal is to trick consumers into giving them financial info, remote access to their computers, or paying for bogus software they don’t need.

Federal Trade Commission Warns of Student Loan Scams, Tips to Avoid Student Loan Repayment ScamsRelated Story:
Federal Trade Commission Warns of Student Loan Scams, Tips to Avoid Student Loan Repayment Scams

Anyone who gets these types of calls should hang up immediately and file a complaint with the FTC. Consumers who paid for bogus tech support or tech support refunds using a credit card should contact their credit card company and ask to reverse the charges.

Learn more about tech support refund scams in the FTC’s latest consumer blog post, and
stay a step ahead of the latest scams by subscribing to Scam Alerts.

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS